Car-coupling



(No Model.)

H. GALLAGER.

GAR GOUPLING.

N0. 528,124. Patented Out. 23, 1894..

Illllllllllll 7 INVENTOR.

WIT.NESS ES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY GALLAGER, OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION formng part of Letters Patent No; 528,124, dated -October 23, 1894. hpplicutionfiled May 3, 1894. Serial No. 509,878. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY GALLAGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Savannah, in the county of Chatham and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Oar-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved car coupler which is simple and durable in construction, very effective and automatic in operation, and arranged to couple or unoouple the cars without the operator stepping between the cars; and especially and particularly to uncoup1e automatically, in the event of the breaking, or giving way, of the drawbar or tail bolt of the coupler.

The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be hereinafter described and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the acoompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1, is a plan showing the coupler open with the catch raised. Fig. 2, is a plan showing the coupler closedwith the catch down holding the arm of the knuckle in a locked position. Fig. 3, is a sectional side elevation, showing the position of the catch, and its connecting rod,when at rest on the lower wall of the draw-head. Fig.4, is aside elevation of the catch. Fig. 5, is a front elevation of the catch. Fig. 6, is a detail of connecting rod. Fig. 7, is a rear elevation of the knuckle and arm, showing a curved depression on the rear tail end of the arm.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1, shows a drawhead A of the twin jaw or Janney type, of the ordinary size to conform to the requirements of the Master Car Builders standard. Drawhead A, is perforated through its upper wall to admit of the passage of conneoting rod H, through the aperture S, thus made, as is shown in Fig. 3. Drawhead A, has a recess B, on the inner side of its upper wall, to permit the entrance of the head of catch F,

.when it is raised for the purpose of couplihg or uncoupling. Drawhead A, also has a recess G, on the inner side of its lower wall, in which it receives catch F, when the latter is walls to permit of the passage up and down of the trunnions L, L, of catch F. Drawhead A, has also horizontal grooves O, O, in the upper parts of its inner side walls to permit of the passage forward and rearward of the trunnions L, L of catch F, all of which is shown in Fig. 3.

My looking device, catch F,is shaped some-- what in the form of a pear with flattened sides, the bulb' being on the forward part, and tapering toward the rear end, where it is provided with trunnions L, L, as is shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 5, shows the forward end of catch F, having a vertical recess, to admit the lower end of connecting rod H, which is connected with catch F, by means of bolt I, passing through lugs R, R, and being secured in its position by a cotter key M, passing through an eye in the end of bolt I. The trunnions L, L, of catch F, operate in recesses N, N, and hold catch F, in position when the latter is at rest in recess G. There is no strain on the trunnions L, L, when the arm D, is pressing against the side of catch F, as the opposite side of catch F, abuts against the solid wall of drawhead A,and prevents any side motion, as is shown in Fig. 2. Catch F, is intended when at rest in recess G, to lock the coupler when the arm D, is in position in recess V, as shown in Fig. 2.

When thus locked, the couplercan only be opened by drawing catch F, up Ward and rearward by means of connecting rod H, being drawn upward and rearward through aperture, S, as shown in Fig. 3. The manner in which rod H, operates, opening the catch F, and releasing arm D, by being drawn upward, and rearward, toward buffer T, allows the said connecting rod H, to be drawn out automatically in case of breaking or giving way of the drawbar, or tail bolt, of drawhead A, thus lifting catch F,and opening the knuckle O, and releasing the coupler on the opposite car, and allowing drawhead A, to remain in position on its own car, instead of falling on the track and derailing the car or cars that may pass over it.

Catch F, can be removed from drawhead A, if at any time necessary, by first removing IOC bolt E, and taking out knuckle C. Then draw out the cotter key M, from bolt I, and draw out bolt I, which will release connecting rod H. Then lift the rear end of catch F, upward through grooves N, N, until trunnions L, L, reach the upper wall of drawhead A. Then draw the catch F, forward through the grooves O, O, and catch F, is released.

To open my coupler when it is locked, it is necessary to have the upper end of connecting rod H, connected to suitable operating mechanism extending to the side of the car, by means of which catch F, may be raised or lowered. This connectng mechanism may be of any desired construction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. The combination of a drawhead, having the catch pivotally controlled, by means of trunnions at its rear end, the drawhead provided With two sets of grooves, one set of which are vertical, and the other set horizonta], said grooves adapted to provide a way for said trunnions, for the purpose of allowfor said trunnions, for the purpose of allowing said trunnions of the catch to work either upward or downward, and for the removal of said trunnions inward or outward as may be desired, and the drawhead provided With an aperture in its upper wall to admit a rod, connecting the catch to suitable mechanism attached to the car, for raising or lowering the catch, substantially as set forth.

HENRY GALLAGER.

Witnesses:

T. S. CLAY, J r., E. M. MCDONELL. 

